US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday defended America's increasingly contentious support for Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war, warning lawmakers the brutal conflict would worsen without US involvement.
Pompeo was due to speak to the Senate alongside Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to discuss US support for the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels, ahead of a possible vote on reducing military backing to the Saudis.
"The suffering in Yemen grieves me, but if the United States of America was not involved in Yemen, it would be a hell of a lot worse," said Pompeo in prepared remarks.
"Abandoning Yemen would do immense damage to US national security interests and those of our Middle Eastern allies and partners."